Podcast Summary: You, Me & Mike

Episode 211: Everyday Absurdities
Release Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Jenn & Mike Todryk (produced by Thirteen Media)

Overview

In this lighthearted and freewheeling episode, Jenn and Mike Todryk dive into the “everyday absurdities” that make up modern life. Touching on unwritten social rules, pet peeves, nostalgic memories, and playful hypotheticals (think: farting confetti vs. sneezing glitter), the couple banter through both relatable annoyances and quirky stories from their lives. The entire episode remains conversational, humorous, and inviting, packed with nostalgia and the unfiltered dynamic listeners expect from You, Me & Mike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Concept of 'Everyday Absurdities'

• 00:54–02:20
  Mike introduces the theme as a collection of random, light topics—everyday things that are odd or illogical but widely accepted:

  “The first thing we’re going to talk about is everyday absurdities...I want to keep it light and fun.” – Mike (02:00)

2. Unwritten Social Rules

• 03:06–10:41
  The hosts explore those strange, unspoken codes we all seem to follow:
  • Jenn points out how nobody cares about the 'no white after Labor Day' rule anymore, crediting Millennials for breaking that mold.

    "White is year round. Why would white only be worn in warmer months? Makes no sense." – Jenn (02:50)

  • Grocery shopping quirks: Mike describes never taking the first fruit on display; both discuss the germiness of produce.
  • The etiquette of using public restrooms—Jenn squats “every time,” and the couple agrees on layering toilet paper for kids.

    "For the kids, I always put toilet paper down on the seat. I do that for Viv." – Jenn (09:43)

  • Pretending to be busy in certain social situations—Mike confesses to it; Jenn insists she “owns it” when taking breaks.

3. Work & Office Absurdities

• 07:12–08:56
  Mike shares how, pre-pandemic, there was pressure to appear busy when working from home:
  • Anecdote about a former coworker who pretended to be constantly in surgery as a status symbol.

    "This guy, no matter what time of day... he would always, no matter what, make you think he was busier than you." – Mike (08:12)

4. Pet Peeves

• 11:05–16:24
  A hilarious back-and-forth on each other's (and the world’s) pet peeves:
  • Jenn’s airplane pet peeve: people who stand and rush the aisle upon landing, rather than waiting their turn.

    “I will stick my foot out in the middle of the aisle... Sit down, wait your turn.” – Jenn (12:08)

  • Mike’s: loud eating noises at home, especially crunching apples (described as a “visceral” reaction).

    “I get mad… it creates, like, an emotional reaction to me where you should move.” – Mike (15:03)

  • Jenn’s family pet peeve: being expected to know where everything in the house is.

    “I am not the keeper of all the crap. I need you all to figure it out.” – Jenn (16:26)

  • Mike’s: empty boxes left in the freezer or fridge.

5. Nostalgia: Growing Up in the 90s/2000s

• 24:40–41:22
  The hosts swap stories about now-extinct cultural moments and tech:
  • Jenn laments how kids no longer have to wait for a favorite radio song or Saturday morning cartoon.

    “Our kids never have to wait to hear a song.” – Jenn (25:54)

  • Mike reminisces about Saturday morning cartoons and renting Nintendo games from Blockbuster. He describes the heartbreak when a rental cartridge didn’t work and DIY attempts at fixing them.
  • Both recall “extreme” marketing to kids in the 90s—X-treme snacks, wild commercials, and tie-in merchandise.
  • Discussion of the downfall of Toys R Us and the big-box toy store era.

    “Amazon killed it... that amount of toys, that much real estate just doesn’t make sense anymore.” – Mike (30:35)

  • Forgotten icons: Ronald McDonald’s disappearance from advertising, and why McDonald’s pulled back on mascot-based marketing.

6. Parenting Fibs & Technology

• 43:18–47:08
  The couple admits to telling their kids “the WiFi goes to sleep at 9pm” and other harmless lies:

  “We definitely told them... ‘the Internet’s out’... They probably thought we had the crappiest WiFi.” – Jenn (43:39)

  • Jenn discusses the importance of monitoring online games—especially Roblox—and not letting devices go unsupervised.

    “Roblox is not the enemy per se... you just have to watch, like you have to be around.” – Jenn (44:36)

7. Money Lessons & First Jobs

• 48:10–51:53
  The hosts reflect on how their parents handled allowance, jobs, and personal finance:
  • Mike shares how his mother switched from a tip jar system to demanding he earn his own cash at 16.
  • Jenn’s first job at Sonic, motivated by a friend, gave her a sense of independence and fun.

8. Absurd Hypotheticals

• 54:13–56:14
  Rapid-fire would-you-rather scenarios wrap up the episode:

  • Would you rather laugh like a car alarm or hiccup whenever someone says your name?
  • Would you rather sneeze glitter or fart confetti?

  “I guess I’d rather sneeze glitter because sneezing isn’t embarrassing. When glitter comes out would be mortifying. But also, fart is way funnier.” – Jenn (55:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unwritten Social Rules:
  “White is year round. Why would white only be worn in warmer months? Makes no sense. Why can't I be cold wearing white?” – Jenn (02:50)

• On Airplane Etiquette:
  “I will stick my foot out in the middle of the aisle... Sit down, wait your turn. Like, there’s people with kids that are screaming to get off this plane. Sit down.” – Jenn (12:08)

• On Pet Peeves in the Household:
  “I am not the keeper of all the crap. I know you know where it is.” – Jenn (16:26)
  “It’s a crunching sound. And it... creates, like, an emotional reaction to me where you should move.” – Mike (15:03)

• On Parenting Fibs:
  “We definitely told them... The Internet’s out. They probably thought we had the crappiest WiFi.” – Jenn (43:39)

• On Nostalgia:
  “Our kids never have to wait to hear a song.” – Jenn (25:54)
  “Saturday mornings were like something special... your Fruity Pebbles, and you sit in front of the TV watching Transformers.” – Mike (26:26)

• On Confetti Farts vs. Glitter Sneezes:
  “I guess I’d rather sneeze glitter because sneezing isn’t embarrassing. When glitter comes out would be mortifying. But also, fart is way funnier.” – Jenn (55:52)

Notable and Funny Timestamps

• Airplane Aisle Debate: 11:11–13:40
• Food Noise Pet Peeve: 14:23–15:37
• Nostalgia Kick (90s Radio & Cartoons): 24:40–27:59
• Blockbuster & Nintendo Cartridge Fixing: 34:18–36:00
• Parenting Lies (WiFi bedtime): 43:31–44:02
• Absurd Hypotheticals Begin: 54:12

Overall Tone

Conversational, playful, candid, and relatable, with lots of good-natured ribbing and a focus on shared nostalgia and family realities. Humor and exaggeration are part of the Todryks' charm throughout this “everyday absurdities” themed episode.

Useful for New Listeners

• This episode captures the spontaneous and unfiltered nature of Jenn and Mike’s podcast, with practical discussions, real-life stories, and a generous dose of 80s/90s nostalgia.
• It’s full of easy-to-relate-to scenarios, offering both a look at their everyday lives and bigger trends in how families and technology have changed.

For more topics, suggestion submission, or to leave a voice message for the show, email youmeandmikepodcast@gmail.com.